Atmosfear (series)

The object of the game is to collect six different coloured "Keystones"{{cite manual |title=Nightmare [Game booklet] |publisher=A Couple 'A Cowboys |location=Australia |year=1991}}{{cite manual |title=The Harbingers [Game booklet] |publisher=A Couple 'A Cowboys |location=Australia |year=1995}}{{cite manual |title=The Gatekeeper [Game booklet] |publisher=A Couple 'A Cowboys |location=Australia |year=2004}}{{cite manual |title=Khufu The Mummy [Game booklet] |publisher=A Couple 'A Cowboys |location=Australia |year=2006}} and thus beat the host. For most games in the series, the "Gatekeeper" is the host but in the 2006 game and three expansions for the original one other characters take the role of the host, introducing their own rules. To beat the host, the players must face their worst fear. If none of the players are able to win the game within the set time limit, the host is the winner.{{cite video |title = The Harbingers |medium = VHS videotape |publisher = A Couple 'A Cowboys |location = Australia |date = 1995 |time = 59:57 |quote = The Gatekeeper: It's over you idiots. You have lost, and you only have yourselves to blame. So good riddance. *laughs*}}

A videotape, or in later games a DVD, is included with the game and acts as a game clock. The video stars the host of the game, who appears throughout the tape giving instructions to players. When a player has collected the Keystones, they can win the game by facing their earlier expressed "greatest fear", which is actually just a random event; if they are successful they win the game.

Atmosfear feature various characters based on real-life people or myths.

• The Gatekeeper
• Anne de Chantraine, the Witch
• Baron Samedi, the Zombie
• Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the Vampire
• Gevaudan, the Werewolf
• Hellin (Helin in DVD editions), the Poltergeist
• Khufu, the Mummy
• Medusa, the Gorgon

• Dr. Mastiff

{{Main|Nightmare (Atmosfear series)}}

Phillip Tanner and Brett Clements met in 1982 and a year later they both set up their own television production company, A Couple 'A Cowboys.{{cite journal |first = Lenore |last = Nicklin |date = 12 April 1994 |title = Game boys |journal = The Bulletin |volume = 116 |issue = 5915 |pages = 36 |publisher = Australian Consolidated Press |location = Sydney, Australia |issn = 0007-4039 |quote = In 1983 they set up their own TV production company, calling it 'A Couple 'A Cowboys'}} They developed a pilot and took it to Village Roadshow, which within 24 hours signed a marketing and distribution agreement.{{cite journal |first = Lenore |last = Nicklin |date = 12 April 1994 |title = Game boys |journal = The Bulletin |volume = 116 |issue = 5915 |pages = 36 |publisher = Australian Consolidated Press |location = Sydney, Australia |issn = 0007-4039 |quote = They spent two years playing and testing Nightmare before making a pilot and taking it to Roadshow Entertainment, Australia's biggest distributor of video product ... Roadshow became co-producers and marketed it worldwide}}{{cite news |title = Nightmare makes a dream come true |first = Jennifer |last = McAsey |url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&kw=Phillip+Tanner&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=100&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news910921_0239_9664 |newspaper = Sunday Age |date = 21 September 1991 |quote = Within 24 hours a marketing and distribution agreement had been signed.}} Nightmare was released in September 1991.{{cite news |title = Cowboys riding high on back of a game idea |first = Bob |last = Beale |url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&kw=Phillip+Tanner&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=100&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news940221_0077_2900 |newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald|date = 21 February 1994 |quote = Nightmare was released in September 1991.}} In Europe, the game was renamed to Atmosfear to avoid legal issues with the name Nightmare, which was already taken.{{Cite web |title = Horrible History |work = Official website for Atmosfear DVD |publisher = Flying Bark Productions |url = http://www.flyingbark.com.au/atmosfear/history.htm |accessdate = 22 May 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101004135412/http://www.flyingbark.com.au/atmosfear/history.htm |archive-date = 4 October 2010 |url-status = dead}} On the game's release, a marketing campaign was launched with advertising appearing on television and in cinemas.{{cite news |title = Nightmare makes a dream come true |first = Jennifer |last = McAsey |url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&kw=Phillip+Tanner&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=100&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news910921_0239_9664 |newspaper = Sunday Age |date = 21 September 1991 |quote = The advertising for Nightmare, which began on television and in cinemas last week}} The game was very popular in Australia, leading to sold-out "dance parties" and a number of advertising deals, including one with Pepsi. A song and a music video were also created for the game.{{cite video |title = Promotional video for Nightmare |medium = VHS videotape |publisher = A Couple 'A Cowboys |location = Australia |date = 1993 |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzmmpQCgA0g |time = }} Clements and Tanner sold the two millionth board game during the 1993 Christmas period.{{cite news |title = 'Cowboys' riding high on back of a game idea |first = Bob |last = Beale |url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=nstore&kw=Phillip+Tanner&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=100&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news940221_0077_2900 |newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald|date = 21 February 1994 |quote = Sometime over the past Christmas period the Cowboys got their 2 millionth paying customer.}}

{{Main|Nightmare (Atmosfear series)#Expansions}}

Following the success of Nightmare, four game expansions were announced but only three were released. Each expansion came with a new tape and new time and fate cards, with a different character hosting each new tape. Nightmare II was hosted by Baron Samedi and released in 1992. Nightmare III was hosted by Anne de Chantraine and released in 1993. Nightmare IV was hosted by Elizabeth Bathory and released in 1994. The game's fourth expansion was to be hosted by Khufu and to be released in 1995, but faced with declining sales of the series, it was cancelled and replaced by The Harbingers.

{{Main|The Harbingers}}

With the feedback received from players after the release of Nightmare, Clements and Tanner started work on a major update to the series.{{Cite journal|first = Steven |last = Paulsen |year = 1996 |title = Cowboys and Atmosfear |journal = Bloodsongs |issue = 7 |page = 15 |publisher = Bambada Press |location = Australia |quote = In fact Atmosfear gave the Cowboys the opportunity to build on everything they had learnt from doing the first game, and to take into account the research and feedback from players during design phase.}} They struck a deal with J. W. Spear & Sons,{{Cite journal|first = Steven |last = Paulsen |year = 1996 |title = Cowboys and Atmosfear |journal = Bloodsongs |issue = 7 |page = 15 |publisher = Bambada Press |location = Australia |quote = This time around the Cowboys teamed up with a British company called JW Spear and Sons.}} to use publishing experience and market research with Nightmare to help create the new game. The deal allowed J. W. Spear & Sons to have input into how the game was developed, which had not been the case with Nightmare.{{Cite journal|first = Steven |last = Paulsen |year = 1996 |title = Cowboys and Atmosfear |journal = Bloodsongs |issue = 7 |pages = 15–16 |publisher = Bambada Press |location = Australia |quote = Nightmare was such a major success for Spear, and they had done a lot of market research on it, that they wanted to have a say in how the next game was developed. For the Cowboys, it meant that they could take advantage of Spear's obvious game development skills, rather than having to build everything up from scratch themselves.}} Village Roadshow was also involved with the game's development and with its release in the United States.{{cite magazine|first = Neil |last = Shoebridge |date = 16 October 1995 |title = Roadshow speeds on to the entertainment superhighway |page = 81 |magazine = Business Review Weekly |location = Australia |quote = [Village] Roadshow is releasing Atmostfear ... this year ... in the US.}} The development ended six years after it started, with about six million dollars invested in the development of the game.{{Cite journal|first = Steven |last = Paulsen |year = 1996 |title = Cowboys and Atmosfear |journal = Bloodsongs |issue = 7 |page = 14 |publisher = Bambada Press |location = Australia |quote = [Atmosfear] was something like six years and six million dollars in production.}}

The Harbingers sold above the industry's sales predictions in Australia and became one of the top-ten best-selling games in the United States and the United Kingdom within months of its release.{{Cite journal|first = Steven |last = Paulsen |year = 1996 |title = Cowboys and Atmosfear |journal = Bloodsongs |issue = 7 |page = 14 |publisher = Bambada Press |location = Australia |quote = Here in Australia it is already selling above industry predictions, and within months of it release, it has become one of the top ten best selling games in America and is the only new game currently in the UK top ten.}} On the game's release, Mattel launched a marketing campaign with a spot on MTV, cross-promotions with soft drinks and a website for the game.{{Cite news|title = THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING Increasingly, companies are cashing in on Halloween's monsters and ghosts |first = Stuart |last = Elliott |agency = Business/Financial Desk |newspaper = The New York Times |location = New York City, United States |date = 31 October 1995 |page = 8 |quote = One particularly elaborate campaign is for Atmosfear ... There are spots that start this week on MTV and a cross-promotion in stores with soft drinks ... There is even a site on the World Wide Web for Atmosfear ... it's the first for any Mattel product.}}

{{Main|The Harbingers#Booster tapes}}

Two booster tapes were released following the success of The Harbingers.{{Cite web |title = Horrible History |work = Official website for Atmosfear DVD |publisher = Flying Bark Productions |url = http://www.flyingbark.com.au/atmosfear/history.htm |accessdate = 22 May 2010 |quote = By 1995 a new master game was launched through Mattel world-wide, ATMOSFEAR – THE HARBINGERS. This was followed by a sequel ATMOSFEAR – THE SOUL RANGERS along with two booster tapes. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101004135412/http://www.flyingbark.com.au/atmosfear/history.htm |archive-date = 4 October 2010 |url-status = dead}} The tapes provide a challenging experience for experienced players. They run for forty-five minutes instead of the sixty minutes of the original, and come with a new rule to limit the number of Keystones added to each province based on the number of players. Other than this limit the normal rules apply.{{cite manual |title = The Harbingers Booster Tape Cover (VHS videotape, USA/UK version) |publisher = A Couple 'A Cowboys |year = 1995 |quote = Boost the skill, strategy and suspense of ATMOSFEAR with a special 45-minute game tape for advanced players. Featuring all new appearances from The Gatekeeper. No need to read up on any new rules. Simply refer to the advanced keystone table below then insert the Booster Tape and press play for a whole new experience.}}

{{Main|The Harbingers#The Soul Rangers}}

A year later, an add-on called The Soul Rangers was released. This allowed players to play only as The Soul Rangers. The add-on was released because the creators found that players enjoyed causing damage as The Soul Rangers.{{Cite journal|first = Steven |last = Paulsen |year = 1996 |title = Cowboys and Atmosfear |journal = Bloodsongs |issue = 7 |page = 17 |publisher = Bambada Press |location = Australia |quote = What the Cowboys have since discovered, of cause, is that many players actually enjoy being Soul Rangers, simply because they can go around and do a lot of damage. In fact the next Atmosfear video board game will feature these gruesome boys and will be titled The Soul Rangers.}}

{{Main|Atmosfear: The Gatekeeper}}

After nine years of development,{{cite news |title = Far from being board – How DVD plays a new role |first = Greg |last = Thom |newspaper = The Daily Telegraph |publisher = News Limited |location = Sydney, Australia |date = 11 August 2004 |quote = [Philip Tanner] has been working on Atmosfear since 1995.}} The Gatekeeper was released on 8 July 2004.{{cite news |title = Fear factor |newspaper = The Sunday Mail |publisher = News Limited |location = Adelaide, Australia |date = 27 June 2004 |page = 2 |quote = On July 8, the new DVD boardgame Atmosfear: The Gatekeeper will hit the shelves.}} Within six months of its release, 60,000 copies were sold,{{cite news |title = DVD REVOLUTION Rebirth of traditional family fun Pirates join battle of the board games |first = Sean |last = Fewster |newspaper = The Advertiser |publisher = News Limited |location = Adelaide, Australia |date = 15 July 2006 |page = 33 |quote = Nightmare was resurrected as the DVD game Atmosfear in 2004, and sold 60,000 copies in just six months.}} growing to 600,000 worldwide sales.{{cite news |title = Digital growth needs strategy |first = Sheena |last = MacLean |newspaper = The Australian |publisher = News Limited |location = Australia |date = 23 March 2006 |page = 39 |quote = Atmosfear ... has notched up 600,000 in worldwide sales since its release in 2004.}} The Gatekeeper came with a DVD instead of a videotape, with the help of random programming allowing the creators to give a whole new game every time the DVD is played.{{cite news |title = Far from being board – How DVD plays a new role |first = Greg |last = Thom |newspaper = The Daily Telegraph |publisher = News Limited |location = Sydney, Australia |date = 11 August 2004 |quote = Unlike the linear-based storytelling format dictated by videotape, the deep data pockets of DVD allow more than 300 varied storylines and responses from the Gatekeeper, so no game truly plays the same way twice.}}

{{Main|Atmosfear: Khufu the Mummy}}

A second DVD board game was released in 2006 titled Khufu the Mummy.

A ROM image of an unreleased Atmosfear video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released on to the internet by Hidden-Palace.{{Cite web|url=https://hiddenpalace.org/Atmosfear_(Jul_12,_1994_prototype)|title = Atmosfear (Jul 12, 1994 prototype) - Hidden Palace}} It was in development by Beam Software in 1994, but cancelled for unknown reasons. The current dump of the game is 90% complete, with a game crashing glitch that happens on the Egypt level.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211210/EwKCEG2lBgs Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190516034750/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwKCEG2lBgs&list=LLq7NSS5gsfD5nW0O3YcTr-w&index=65&t=0s Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwKCEG2lBgs&t=250s| title = Atmosfear / NightMare (Jul 12, 1994 prototype) (Unreleased SNES Game) | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

At the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con, A Couple 'A Cowboys and Hijynx Toys announced a forthcoming relaunch of the series for 2019.[https://toyworldmag.co.uk/news/best-selling-game-atmosfear-to-be-relaunched/ Article in Toy World Magazine]

In 2019, an app based version of the game was licensed by Creata IP and released in Australia, Spain and Portugal, with additional territories following in 2020. The rules are very similar to the 2004 game with some modifications, but the key change is The Gatekeeper, performed by Jacek Koman, who comes in the form of an app that works in conjunction with a smart device creating the perfect game of ATMOSFEAR. Multiple devices can be used during the game.{{fact|date=January 2024}}

The Kickstarter for the Atmosfear 30th Anniversary Edition concluded on 13 December 2021. The Kickstarter had a total of 3,884 backers, and the game was backed for a total of AU $491,581 with a goal of AU $90,000. Kickstarter: atmosfear-video-board-game-30th-anniversary-edition

The Harbingers of Gévaudan the Werewolf and Hellin the Poltergeist were never made into board games.

• Rue Morgue #41https://archive.org/details/Rue_Morgue_041_2004/page/n129/mode/2up

{{Portal|Games}}

• List of Australian inventions
• List of board games

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.atmosfear.es Web Oficial de Atmosfear] en Español
• An [https://web.archive.org/web/20070314052711/http://www.atmosfear.com.au/khufu/frontPage.htm archived version] of the official Khufu The Mummy (DVD) website
• An [https://web.archive.org/web/20070120153954/http://www.atmosfear.com.au/atmosfear/splash.htm archived version] of the official The Gatekeeper (DVD) website
• {{bgg par |section1=search |id1=nightmare |name1=Nightmare series}}
• {{bgg par |section1=search |id1=atmosfear |name1=Atmosfear series}}

{{Atmosfear series}}

Category:Party board games

Category:Games and sports introduced in 1991

Category:Australian board games

Category:Video board games